Lubricated bullet



{No Model.}

S. O. STEWARDSON.

LUBRIOATED BULLET.

No. 587,342. Patented Aug. 3,1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFLCEE.

SAMUEL CLINTON STEWVARDSON, OF SANTA ANNA, TEXAS.

LUBRICATED BULLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 587,342, dated August3, 1897.

Application filed December 24, 1896. Serial No. 616,894. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CLINTON STEW- ARDSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Santa Anna, in the county of Coleman and State ofTexas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bullets; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in bullets for rifled firearms.

It is a well-known fact that when an ordinary rifie has been fired adozen or more times the inner surface thereof becomes foul and dry,destroying the accuracy of the arm and requiring the same to befrequently wiped out and cleaned. In order to overcome this objectionand to prevent the rusting of the. inside of the barrel, I have devisedan improved form of bullet, the same consisting of a lead projectile ofproper size having an opening leading into the rearend thereof andterminating at a point adjacent to the center of the projectile, alaterally-disposed opening extending entirely through the projectile,and a recess or cavity upon the outer surface thereof located at a pointnear its rear end, the upper edges of said recess being curveddownwardly from two opposite points, forming stops.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a bullet constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at rightangles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 4is a cross-section through the laterally-extending opening.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the difierent views.

The bullet 1 is made of any suitable size and shape and has an opening2, extending longitudinally thereof, leading from the rear end of thebullet and terminating at a point adjacent to its center. The saidbullet is also provided with a transversely-extending opening 3 and hasan external recess or cavity 4: thereon, which extends entirely aroundthe outer surface of the bullet, as clearly shown. The lower edge of thecavity at is bounded by a circular line which lies in a plane at rightangles to the axis of the bullet, and the upper edge of said cavity isbounded by curved lines which extend downwardly from the outer end ofthe opening 3, forming lateral stops 5, as clearly shown.

The openings 2 and 3 and the cavity 4 are filled with heavy grease orother lubricant, and when the same is discharged from the cartridge thesaid grease is expelled from the bullet, coating the inner surface ofthe barrel of the ride wi'h a thin film of oil. The stops 5 5 serve toprevent the grease contained in the cavity 4 from being expelled all atonce during the rotation of the bullet in passing from the barrel of theride from which it is discharged.

Actual practice he s demonstrated the fact that a rifle may be fired analmost indefinite number of times without becoming dry and foul anddestroying the accuracy of the same. Furthermore, by the use of bulletsconstructed according to my invention the inner surface of the barrel isat all times coated with grease or oil, preventing the rusting thereof.The necessity for the constant cleaning of the barrel is therebyobviated. I have found that ordinary beef-tallow is the most effectivelubricating material with which to fill the openings 2 and 3 and thecavity.

I am aware that lubricating-bullets have been employed heretofore with acentral longitudinal opening, a transverse opening leading outwardtherefrom, and with an external groove into which said transverseopening leads. In all such cases, however, the sides of the externalgroove or recess are parallel, and it has been found that when thebullet is ejected from the rifle there is danger of the grease containedin said external recess being lifted bodily and applied at one pointonly. By the formation of the stops 5 5 I obviate this difficulty andprovide means whereby the grease contained in the cavity will beexpelled little at a time throughout the entire length of the barrel.

Having now described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A bullet having a cavity or recess upon its outer surface whose upperedges are curved downwardly from two opposite points forming stops,substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A bullet having a longitudinally-extending opening in its rear endterminating at a point adjacent to the center thereof, alaterallyextending opening leading outwardly from the end of saidlongitudinal opening, and a recess or cavity in its outer surface, theupper edges of said cavity being curved rear- 1 o wardly from the endsof said laterally-extending opening, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftWo subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL CLINTON STE WARDSON.

Witnesses S. D. HARPER, J. D. HOLT.

